Meeting Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Adjustments to minutes
3. Chairman's Report * See Below
4. Secretary's Report
5. Financial Report
6. Downeast EMS Report
7. Reports of Boards and Committees
8. Old Business
* Fund Raising & Public Relations
* Changes in Membership, Address, Phone Numbers, etc.
9. New Business
* Status of Non-Member Communities
10. Open Forum
* Authority Members
* General Public
11. Executive Session (If Necessary)
12. Adjourn
Chairman's Report
Well, if we do not take the foggy, damp, gray, dreary weather into consideration, nor the downside of tourism, I suppose we could say we are having one great summer. The best news I can bring forward at a time when gas prices are up, taxes are up and all those other wonderful things we are faced with is the fact that we are now into another year of operation having closed out another fiscal year.
With the exception of Lubec, they have not had their Town Meeting yet, all the communities are signed in for the coming fiscal year and I fully expect the same from Lubec following their meeting. The harsh reality of the cost of providing ambulance service has set in and it does not really matter if we like it or not, this is the best deal around. Unfortunately, the only way to reduce cost is to reduce service and it is pretty much agreed across the board that reduction of service is an unacceptable alternative.
Revenue - Fiscal year 2004 ended much better off than anticipated following a gloomy revenue beginning. Revenue for the period came in at $731,292 up $21,360 from the $709.931 generated in fiscal year 2003. This brought our weekly average up to $14,024 from the $13,615 the previous year. Revenue numbers appear to be stable on average for the year but vary greatly fro week to week as the mix of insured, Medicare/Medicaid and uninsured varies.
Expense - Expenses rose to $1,076,449 or $20,707 per week from $1,025,328 or $19,718. The two areas creating the most impact on expenses were increased insurance and fuel costs
Responses - We continue to average between 5 and 6 calls per day with the distribution being erratic at best.
New Capital - I am working with Rural Development on grant/loan options as well as with other financial institutions. The need for the purchase of one to three more ambulances will soon be upon us, (actual is upon us but financial constraints have held up the process).
Thank you once again for your continued support and trust in the operation of the ambulance authority. Specifically, I want it to be known that the heart and soul of the operation is in the hands of the highly qualified management team and staff at Downeast and without them we would not be able to fulfill our mission.
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